Switch mechanism



Feb. 4, 1930. 1.. F. MEUNIER SWITCH MECHANISM Filed Aug. 24. 1926 2Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR. Leo/7 E Meunier ATTORNEY.

Feb. 4, 1930. F. MEUNIER SWITCH MECHANISM Filed Aug. 24, 1926 2Sheets-Sheet JNVENTOR. Leo/1 F Meum'er ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 4, 1930 UNITED STATES LEON F. ME'UNIER, OF CLEVELAND,OHIO, ASSIG'iN OE' TO CHICAGO PNEUMATIC TOOL PATENT OFFIOE COMPANY, OFNEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEV] JERSEY SWITCH MECHANISMApplication filed August 24, 1926. Serial No. 131,194.

This invention relates to control apparatus for electrical motors andmachinery. While having features of general application, it has beendeveloped as an improved form of the locking switch disclosed andclaimed in my prior Patent No. 1,586,953 issued June 1,

One object of the invention is to provide totally inclosed and protectedelectrical control devices. Another object is to adapt the ordinary snapswitch to be totally inclosed while still indicating its operatingcondition. Other objects will be apparent from the detailed descriptionwhich follows.

In order to illustrate the invention and the manner of its constructionand use, a pre-. ferred embodiment thereof is shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a verticalsectioal View through a control unit having aplurality of electrical switches;

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the unit shown in Fig. 1

Figs. 8 and 4 are top plan views of the snap switch illustrating themanner of securing an operating member to the switch shaft in apredetermined position;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the operating mem her for the snap switch priorto its attachment to the switch shaft;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the operating member shown in Fig. 5substantially on the line 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional View of the shaft extension member forthe snap switch taken on the line 77 of Fig. 8;

Figs. 8 and 9 are respectively bottom plan and top plan views of theshaft extension member;

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic development of the cam provided on the shaftextension member.

The embodiment of the invention chosen for the purpose of illustrationis an electrical control unit A- adapted to be secured in any suitablemanner as by bolts a to the casing B (Fig. 2) of a coal drill, motor, orother electrical device. The unit comprises a casing 11, which may be intwo or more parts, totally inclosing a plurality of electrical switchesto which power is supplied from a cable C (Fig. 2) entering the unitthrough a junction box D. The switches comprise a main switch 12 of theordinary snap type operated by a rotatable handle 13 and a reversingswitch E operated by a control handle 6 projecting beyond the casing andpivoted at 6 therewithin for limited swinging movement.

As in my prior Patent No. 1,586,953, means are provided under control ofmain switch 12 for locking reversing switch handle 6 against movementwhen the main switch is on, such means comprising a plunger f arrangedto be projected across the path of movement of handle 6 by a lever 9controlled by a cam it. Since this portion of the locking mechanismforms no part of the present invention, further description thereof isomitted.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, casing 11 entirely incloses snap switch 12 sothat the On and OK indicia thereon are not visible as in myaforementioned patent and the usual snap switch control member cannot beused. The new control arrangement and the manner and means by which thecondition of the main switch is indicated to the operator comprising thepresent invention will now be described.

It is necessary first to provide an operating member for snap switch 12having a fixed and known relation to the on and 0E positions of thelatter. To this end the ordinary snap switch button is removed, and anannular member 14 (Figs. 5 and 6) provided with a centrally disposedtransversely projecting hub portion 14 through which extends a threadedbore 14 is substituted. Member 14 is threaded upon shaft 12* of snapswitch 12 until the top of the member is flush with the top of theshaft. Member 14 is then u fixed to the shaft by boring a small holethrough the member and through shaft 12 and inserting a pin 15 (Figs. 3and 4). lVith switch 12 in the on position equal segments of member 14are cut away on opposite sides of said member along chords insubstantial parallelism with the greatest dimension of window 12 throughwhich the On and Ofi indicia is visible, whereupon member 14 becomes asubstantially oblong actuating member fixed to switch shaft 12 in apredetermined relation.

Actuating member 14 is received with a loose sliding fit between ears 16projecting from the lower side of the switch shaft extension member orpost 16 (Figs. 1, 7 8 and 9). Post 16 is rotatably received in a bear-,ing 11 in casing 11 and receives on its reduced projecting end 16 theswitch actuating knob or handle 13 which is keyed to the post 16 by akey number 17 (Fig. 1) and is retained on the post by nut 18. Postl6adjacent the inner end of bearing 11 is formed with an annular flange 16from which projects cam h for controlling the operation of locking lever9. Flange 16 and cam h are preferably formed as integral portions ofpost 16.

Key 17 fixes operating handle 13 to post 16 in a definite relation sothat indicating means upon handle 13, such as projections 13 (Fig. 2),indicate to the operator the condition of main switch 12. Vith thestructural arrangement herein described, main switch 12 is on when thehandle is in the position shown in Fig. 2,that is, when the projections13 are substantially transverse to reverse switch handle 6. In thisposition, locking plunger f is in the position shown in Fig. 1preventing movement of reversing switch handle 6. As additional meansfor exactly determining the on and off positions of the main switch, theupper face of flange 16 is provided with a series of depressions orsockets 19 arranged to be engaged by a plunger 20 slidably received in abore in casing 11 adjacent to and parallel with bearing 11*. Plunger 20is yielding ly forced into engagement with flange 16 by spring 21.

Fig. 10 shows the development of cam 03, which has a series of stops d(Figs. 9 and 10) preventing reverse rotation of main switch controlhandle 13 to such a position as would release the locking plunger f topermit the throwing of reversing handle 6 while the switch is on.

From the above it will be apparent that the present invention provides amotor control device incorporating the cheap but efficient snap switch,but totally inclosing and protecting the same from dust and foreignmatters, and that the herein described structural arrangement and methodofinstallation enables the operator to know the condition of suchsnapswitch in spite of its being totally inclosed.

While a preferred form of the invention has been herein shown anddescribed it is to be understood that the invention is not limited tothe specific details thereof, but coversall changes, modifications, andadaptations within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination, a snap switch having a shaft rotatable in onedirection only, a casing completely inclosing said switch, an actuatingmember for said switch having a bearing in said casing, said memberhaving a loose connection with said switch shaft, said connection beingarranged to establish a predetermined fixed relation whereby thecondition of said switch is known by the position of said member. 7

2. In combination, a snap switch havinga shaft rotatable in onedirection only and a plurality of on and off positions, a casingcompletely inclosing said switch, an actuating member for said switchhaving a bearing in said casing,'said member having a loose connectionwith said switch shaft, said connection being arranged to establish apredetermined fixed relation whereby the condition of said switch isknown by the position of said member, and stop means for said membercorresponding with the stop positions of said switch. I

8. In combination, a snap switch having a shaft rotatable in onedirection only, a casing completely inclosin g said switch, an actuatingmember for said switch having a bearing in said casing, said memberhaving a loose connection with said switch shaft, saidconnectionbeingarranged to establish a predetermined fixed relation whereby thecondition of said switch is known by the position of said member, andcooperating means on said casing and said member providing yieldingstops for the latter corresponding with the stop positions of saidswitch.

' 1. In combination, a snap switch having a shaftrotatable in onedirection only, a casing completely inclosing said switch, an actuatingmember for said switch having a bearing in said casing, said memberhaving a loose connection with said switch shaft, said connection beingarranged toestablish a predetermined fixed relation whereby thecondition of said switch is known by the position of said member, andstop means for said member corresponding with the stop positions of saidswitchicomprising a spring pressed plunger on said casing and sockets insaid member to receive said plunger. 5. In combination, a snap switchhaving a shaft rotatable in one direction only and a plurality of on andoff positions during one complete rotation, a casing completelyinclosing said switch, an actuating member for 1 said switch having abearing in said casing, interengaging means on said shaft and saidmember establishing a fixed relation whereby the condition of saidswitch is known by the position of said member. 7 a

6. In combination, a snap switch havinga' shaft rotatable in onedirection only, a casing completely inclosing said switch, an actuatingmember for said'switch having abearing in said casing, a block fixedlysecured to said shaft, and means on-said member releasably engaging saidblock in a fixed relation whereby the condition of said switch is knownby the position of said member.

7. In combination, a snap switch having a shaft rotatable in onedirection only, a casing completely inclosing said switch, an actuatingmember for said switch having a hearing in said casing, a block fixedlysecured to said shaft, and lugs on said member receiving said blocktherebetween to establish a fixed relation between said switch and saidmember.

8. An electrical control device, comprising a casing, a snap switch anda reversing switch inclosed by said casing, an actuating memberrotatably mounted in said casing, means controlled by said member forlocking said reversing switch, and means connecting said snap switch andsaid actuating member in a predetermined fixed relation whereby saidmember indicates the condition of said switch and actuates said lockingmeans in the on position of said snap switch.

9. An electrical control device, comprising a casing, a snap switch anda reversing switch inclosed by said casing, an actuating memberrotatably mounted in said casing, means controlled by said member forlocking said reversing switch, interengaging means on the shaft of saidsnap switch and on said actuating member for establishing a drivingconnection therebetween in a fixed relation whereby said memberindicates the condition of said switch and actuates said locking meansin the on position of said snap switch.

10. An electrical control device comprising a casing, a snap switch anda reversing switch inclosed by said casing, an actuating memberrotatably mounted in said casing, means controlled by said member forlocking said reversing switch, a block fixedly secured to the shaft ofsaid snap switch, lugs on said actuating member receiving said blocktherebetween establishing an operating connection whereby said memberindicates the condition of said snap switch and actuates said lockingmeans in the on position of said snap switch.

11. An electrical control device comprising a casing, a snap switch anda reversing switch inclosed by said casing, an actuating memberrotatably mounted in said casing, means con trolled by said member forlocking said reversing switch, interengaging means on the shaft of saidsnap switch and on said actuating member for establishing a drivingconnection therebetween in a fixed relation, and stop means for saidmember corresponding with the stop positions of said snap switch.

12. An electrical control device comprising a casing, a snap switch anda reversing switch inclosed by said casing, an actuating memberrotatably mounted in said casing, means controlled by said member forlocking said reversing switch, means connecting said snap switch andsaid actuating member in a predetermined fixed relation, and cooperatingmeans on said casing and said member providing yielding stops for thelatter corresponding with the stop positions of said snap switch.

18. An electrical control device comprising a casing, a snap switch anda reversing switch inclosed by said casing, an actuating memberrotatably mounted in said casing, means controlled by said member forlocking said reversing switch, including an annular flange on saidmember carrying a cam, a block fixedly secured to the shaft of said snapswitch, lugs on said actuating member receiving said block therebetweento establish an operating connection, and stop means for said membercomprising a spring-pressed plunger in said casing and sockets in theflange of said member to receive said plunger.

Signed by me at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio,this 9th day of August, 1926.

LEON F. MEUNIER.

